The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-15
INHABITANTS OF MARS.
A Famous Astronomer Thinks That It L
Peopled by Remarkable Beings.

PeOpled BY Remarkable Beings.
A paper has recently been published
BY Sig. Schiaparelli, who is, perhaps,
the most eminent of Italian astrono-
mers, of the result of observations taken
by him at Milan of the physical condi-
tions of the planet Mars. These OBJ
servations were taken in the years
1877, 1879 and 1SS2-per;ods during
which Mars approached. in following
its elliptical course, nearer to our earth
than it ordinarily comes. 1t is well
known that the geography of this
planet has been for some time past
carefully studied. Maps have been
drawn giving the seas and continents
that divide the surface of that planet.
and, as distinguished astronomer has
recently said. so far as the polar re-
gions are concerned, we know more of
those on the planet Mars than we do of
those on our own world. 1t is known
that Mars has an atmosphere that
would permit of some form of animal
life. perhaps the same that we find upon
he earth; that the snow falls in winter
and melts away in the spring. Indeed,
it may be assumed that it hiss noun
tains, valleys and broad plains covered
with vegetation. much as we are &C
customed to find it in our country dis
tricts. except that, while the natural
tint of grass and leaf with US is green,
in Mars it is evidently red.
All this, however, has been known
to astronomers for some time. What
seems to be a new discovery is that the
land surface of the planet Mars is, or
appears to be, divided into great canals
thirty miles or more in width. and ex-
tending in absolutely straight and often
parae!led lines from the seacoast for n
thousand miles or more into the in
terror, where they sometimes intersect
with other canals running directly at
right angles. This would seem 10 in
dictate direction of forces different
from those commonly displayed by
nature. But what is even more re-
markablc, if we are to trust our
authority, is that observation has
shown in some cases these assumed
canals seem to be in process of con-
struction.
Sig. Schiaparelli asserts that he was
greatly surprised to find that the chart
of the surface of Mars, carefully pre-
pared by him from his own observa-
tons of 1879, was found defective in
1882, because during the interval the
number of his assumed canals had in
creased. But his surprise was changed
to establishment on finding. during the
course of his observations in 1882, that
at short intervals what might be termed
PARALLEL canals came, as it were, into
existence. He could hardly assert that
he watched their formation, though in
a certain degree he was able to do this.
What conclusion he draws from this
assertion he does not say, leaving it
for future observers, when, in few
wears more. a chance for further OBJ
servation takes place to draw their own
deductions. But, apparently, the as
sumption might be made-premising
the accuracy of these asserted facts
that the planet Mars is inhabited by a
race of beings possessed of enormous
powers, having the knowledge anu
strength needed to perform in short
space of time what would be almost
equivalent to the construction of q
canal that would reach from the At
lantic Ocean to Chicago, with width
of the State of Massachusetts. OF
course, these assertions will be accepted
with a very great degree of skepticism,
but, none the less. they will add not a
little to the curiosity and interest with
which further observations on the
planet Mars will be watched for
Boston Herald.